Ok, so this is pretty dam cool. Mini France has just launched a Social / Google Maps mash-up advergame called “Mini Maps“. It’s a Facebook app that lets you customise a virtual MINI and then challenge Facebook friends to time trials around the world through a Google Maps mash-up, which basically has you racing your friends over satellite images of your favourite locations.

I took one for a spin over the Sydney Harbour Bridge which was pretty cool. And you can also create your own tracks before inviting Facebook friends into the race, or simply join random challenges from around the world as you find them.

While the live connection to friends seemed a little sticky at times, the overall experience was great, and the lure of racing friends anywhere on the planet should see the MINI Maps campaign grab some serious traction over the coming week… I’m glad the guys at DDB Paris & Unit9 were able to integrate the live social element, it’s taken the decently well exposed maps mash-up style to a much more powerful playing field. What do you think of MINI Maps? (thanks Matt!)

This is lame, you dont even need to stick to the track, address recognition is poor and frustrating, the google maps thing is badly integrated (you dont even get to race on the map, its slow, mini’s are lame and so is this game. EPIC FAIL
BTW, have you seen that travesty of a monster mini? its bigger than a normal car, I mean come on! Mini’s are driven by douches who cant afford 1 series BMW’s, who are douches that cant afford 3 series BMW’s.

They stole the idea from a European pitch by DDB UK I worked on when all DDB European agencies were working on the launch of VW Passat. Same exact concept, slightly different execution but we did propose it and with the FB application. Sad.